NBC Promotes Business Affairs Veterans Masami Yamamoto and Lee Straus

NBC has handed promotions to two of its most senior business-affairs executives, Masami Yamamoto and Lee Straus.

Yamamoto will serve as Executive Vice President, Business Affairs for NBC Entertainment and Universal Television, where she will work on deals for the scripted side of the business. She’s previously had a hand in business affairs for shows ranging from “This Is Us” to next week’s special “Hairspray Live!”

Straus will take on the same role on the unscripted side for NBC Entertainment and Universal Television Alternative Studio. He’s worked on shows such as “America’s Got Talent” and “The Voice.”

The pair — who had held Senior Vice President titles — will continue to report to George Cheeks, p[resident of business operations and late-night programming for NBC Entertainment.

A graduate of New York University’s law school, Yamamoto was previously special counsel at the law firm of O’Melveny & Myers. Straus, a Loyola Law School alum, worked in the business affairs department at Buena Vista Television. As an undergrad, he studied film production at USC.

“Masami and Lee are exceptionally intelligent and strategic business affairs executives,” Cheeks wrote in a statement. “Under their strong leadership, NBC Entertainment and Universal Television will be best equipped to navigate the business challenges in an increasingly complex and ever-evolving landscape.”